Flint Public Art Project's art parades move to city's east side.

Flint Public Art Project held the last of four Neighborhood Art Parades on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Martin Luther King Ave. and W. Dewey St.

FLINT, MI — The Flint Public Art Project's art parades are taking on new territory Thursday, July 24, heading over to Flint's east side.

The art parades — community-wide walks that include dancers, musicians and anyone from the neighborhood who wants to participate — started in Flint's north side neighborhoods as a way to get people out on their streets and build a sense of community.

"The method of the art parades, it starts with connecting with the neighborhood organizations there, and talking to them about what they're doing and how to bring attention to the neglected side and bring attention to what the organizations are doing to convert areas," said Stephen Zacks, FPAP's executive director.

The north side neighborhood walks started as a way to build on existing community walks — efforts to reclaim the streets neighborhoods that have fallen victim to blight and crime. On the east side, it was no different.

The Neighborhood Art Parades are part of a partnership with Flint's Light Up the City Initiative. The two initiatives have joined forces for the summer 2014 season, Gillers said. The organizations who help organize the event are FPAP, the Neighborhood Restoration Coalition, UFO Village, Professional Nursing Services, Salem Housing, Michigan State Police, the Flint Police Department, Genesee County Sheriff's Department, Elga Credit Union, Consumer's Energy, Wal-Mart, and Flint Neighborhood's United.

Tameka Stinson is a committee member Neighborhood Restoration Coalition and organizes weekly community walks on Flint's east side.

She said she thinks the parade will draw more attention to the community walk. "I think it's wonderful what they are doing," she said.

As word of the event has spread, she said more local organizations and businesses are getting involved already.

"It's wonderful, it enlightens people to what 's going on in the community," she said.

Other organizations involved in the parade are Flintopia, the Hispanic Technology Center, Peacemob Orchards, Fight Against Blight, and Asbury United Methodist Church.

The parade will be begin at 1501 Davison Road, the site of the former Homedale Elementary School, at 6:30 p.m.

Zacks said the art involved at the event will highlight the east side's growing reputation as a green and eco-friendly neighborhood.